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Skidmore Cares 2008 delivers the goods

Skidmore has delivered a total of 82 boxes of food to four local food pantries as
the result of this year’s Skidmore Cares program. The four beneficiaries of the food
drive are the Saratoga County Economic Opportunity Council, the Franklin Community
Center, the Salvation Army, and Shelters of Saratoga. In addition, the program raised
$550 in cash, which has been donated to Shelters of Saratoga for the purchase of fresh
vegetables and meats.

President Glotzbach and Marie Glotzbach with student volunteers for Skidmore Cares, along with some of the donations received.

Groupings of employees and students, each headed by campus representatives, or “cheerleaders,”
were assigned specific food items and goals. All told, some 1,200 food items were
collected.

“Clearly the demand on food pantries has risen during the last several months,” said
Michelle Hubbs, Skidmore’s director of community service programs. “These agencies
reached out to the community for food donations as early as the fall, as the economy
worsened. Donations like the ones from Skidmore Cares are a crucial shot in the arm
for these programs.”

As in past years, Skidmore Cares 2008 also collected books for young readers. This
year the books are being donated to Head Start; Shelters of Saratoga; and Wait House,
a shelter for homeless youth in Glens Falls. Some of the books will be given to the
Children's Stories Project, a program that will involve Skidmore students working
with inmates at the Mount McGregor Correctional Facility. The students will assist
in the production of video tapes of inmates reading selected books for their children.
Both the book and the video will be sent to the child.

Skidmore Cares, now in its third year, was launched by Phil and Marie Glotzbach to
enhance the meaning of the annual campus holiday gathering at Scribner House. Faculty,
staff, and their families dropped off their donations in a sleigh on the front yard
when they attended the open house on Sunday, December 14. For those unable to attend
the event, the sleigh was available for “drive-by” donations on the Friday and Saturday
prior to the open house.

The student component of the program was organized by the Student Athletic Committee
with assistance from Benefaction. The student drive included an opportunity to donate
“virtual food” through cash donations.

“Skidmore Cares provides an opportunity for the Skidmore community to collectively
make a contribution to Saratoga Springs. It increases the meaningfulness of gathering
together in the spirit of the season,” said Marie Glotzbach, who spearheads the program.
“We hope our efforts will lighten the load for many local families.”